For the first time since the conclusion of their unsuccessful European Cup campaign in Cologne last August, the Irish hockey team will be back in action today when they play Germany in the opening match of a four-nations tournament in Barcelona, where the hosts and Britain complete the line-up. The match marks the beginning of an intensive build-up to the Olympic Qualifier in Milton Keynes in March. Next month they travel to San Diego for another winter training camp, where they will have at least two matches against the United States.
Ever the optimist, coach Riet Kuper, while conceding the task is a daunting one, believes the team has a chance of making it to Sydney, not least because of the commitment of the players, many of whom have made enormous personal sacrifices to ready themselves for the challenge.
"Some of them have quit their jobs and some have gone part-time because they think, like I do, that we have a chance of qualifying, so they want to give it everything."
A string of impressive displays and results against weaker opposition in the build-up to Cologne last year raised both Kuper's and the players' expectations to an unrealistic level before the European finals but such is the strength of the teams they will play in the coming weeks they are unlikely to enter the Olympic qualifier in the same frame of mind.
Germany, the European silver medallists, Spain (tomorrow's opponents) and Britain (Sunday's opponents) should prove strong enough to relegate Ireland to bottom place in the four-nations tournament but will, at least, leave the team in no doubt about the size of the task facing them in Milton Keynes.
Their prospects over the weekend will not be helped by the fact that almost half the 20-player panel is either suffering or recovering from flu, including captain Mary Logue, Claire McMahon, Arlene Thompson, Jenny Burke and Daphne Sixsmith. Work commitments have ruled Caitriona O'Kelly out of the trip but Laura Brown returns after an 18-month absence from the international scene and will be given a chance to fill Sarah Kelleher's centre midfield vacancy.
